The phrase "a position to exert" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing someone's ability or authority to influence or control a situation or outcome.
Example: "As the project manager, she is in a position to exert significant influence over the team's direction."
Alternatives: "an ability to influence" or "a capacity to exert".
Records show that when negotiations began, Burlington Northern was in a position to exert influence over Amtrak's affairs.
But for the invisible hand to work properly, there must be many competitors in each industry, so that nobody is in a position to exert monopoly power.
Most troubling, when the United States was in a position to exert strong diplomatic pressure on Israel that could have ended the atrocities, it failed to do so.
When Trump's Cabinet members are confirmed and their staffs are in place, heads of national security departments and agencies could be in a position to exert great influence.
What is not clear is anyone's belief that they, as Germans, should be in a position to exert leadership over others.
The volume and range of products sold by grocery retailers is now immense in the UK, and that scale puts them in a position to exert great influence upstream and downstream, in supplier countries and amongst their consumers.
A well-informed public that understands an issue and potential solutions is in a stronger position to exert pressure on policy makers to address environmental concerns.
Najarian pointed out that, as chairman of a powerful county agency with influence over regional transportation funds, Antonovich is in a prime position to exert political pressure on cities to achieve a certain end.
The Liberals were in a strong position to exert considerable influence, and yet achieved virtually nothing.
He said that groupings of these smaller countries would be in a better position to exert pressure on more developed countries and have their problems heard.
Council chief executive John Mothersole says he is in a better position to exert influence over health budgets in partnership with local clinicians.
